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ur favorite program is nearly underway. We have a terrific line up of speakers and topics for our annual history symposium, this time a celebration of the 1890s, which saw the birth of the automobile industry. In this issue, you will find articles from each of our speakers covering an array of subjects from this decade. The symposium also includes a round robin of interactive experiences in our mini version of a world’s fair reminiscent of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. We are very proud the Nevada Department of Education once again approved our symposium for teachers to earn one inservice credit. Our audience is a delightful mix of educators and people interested in history and unique learning opportunities. This leads to the best question and answer sessions that always impress our presenters. This symposium would not be possible without a greatly appreciated grant from Nevada Humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It provides essential funding and a platform for producing notable programming. I don’t believe I have shared with you the significance of this grant to the Museum, and particularly to me. Shortly after the Museum opened – when I was assistant director – the director and I met with Nevada Humanities about a grant (for all the wrong reasons). It was a polite and informative exchange; however, it was understood that it was unlikely our Museum would ever receive a humanities grant. While humiliating, it triggered a goal. After becoming executive director in late 1992, we began striving to develop educational programming at a level worthy of this prestigious grant.
In 1996, the Museum offered its first history symposium and it was funded, in part, by a Nevada Humanities grant. Since then, every symposium has earned this grant. This represents significant work developing content, identifying scholars and matching the important goals of Nevada Humanities to ensure significant, meaningful programming. The funding has been invaluable, and equally important is the grant process that encourages us to continually evaluate, evolve and improve. We never take this funding for granted and never underestimate the effort required to earn it. In addition to Nevada Humanities, we sincerely thank other funders, including the 20th Century Automobile Endowment Fund, Washoe County School District, and a donation made this year in memory of Charles McIntosh, whose artwork you will find in our Museum Store. As his niece Gretchen Cosby-Doyle aptly stated, “If a picture paints a thousand words, then Charles McIntosh left us volumes to consider.” We trust our symposiums in turn leave us with volumes to consider. Our history symposiums cannot be addressed without expressing praise and gratitude to our Symposium Project Manager and Museum’s Sr. Support Services Manager Barbara Clark. Her endless research, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence have produced exceptional programs since 2006. Finally, I want to thank our audience -- Museum members, the public and teachers in our region who bring excitement, curiosity and open minds to our annual exploration of history through the timeline of the automobile.